Silent Running - NorthStar
Belfast band Silent Running were one of Ireland’s biggest musical exports in the 1980s; they delivered three noteworthy albums, from the atmospheric, new wave sound of their first two releases to the anthemic styled, wall-of-sound rock of 1989's Deep.
However, following a reunion in 2019 that was supposed to a fun get-together for a couple of live dates, the band found they still had more to offer.
A live album was followed in 2022 by their first studio album in thirty-three years, Follow The Light.
Three years on from Follow The Light comes the Arts Council of Northern Ireland supported NorthStar, featuring the Silent Running core of Peter Gamble (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Tony Scott (lead guitars, backing vocals), Richard Collett (bass, backing vocals) and Gary Kirby (drums, backing vocals, programming), who first played with the band on Deep. Keys are provided by David Williams.
While Follow The Light can be seen, or rather heard, as the three decades later sequel to the big rock sound of Deep, NorthStar (which, like its predecessor, was solely written by Peter Gamble), is slightly more guitar orientated, where keyboards are utilised more as textures. That Silent Running sound is still very much present and correct however.
The album opens with 'This Is My City Tonight,' is a big-beat, bass pumping melodically rocking nod to Belfast and the more positive, present day nature of the city, as opposed to the one Peter Gamble grew up in.
The mid-tempo groove and hook of 'Hit And Run' recalls similarly vibed 80s radio hits (think a brighter sounding version of Jon Waite’s 'Missing You'), but its true strength is the lyrical twist where Peter Gamble writes & sings from the female perspective of looking for real love but only finding those ‘hit’ and runs, "always crashing on the road to find the one."
The driving, Billy Idol-esque 'You And Me Against The World' would have sat comfortably on second album Walk On Fire; the downtempo brace of 'State Of Mind' (which sports a nice solo and harmony play from Tony Scott) and the more brooding 'Shooting Star' also nod to that Silent Running 80s sound, but here with a contemporary sheen.
Ballad 'Seventh Wave' adds nicely arranged love song contrast before the weighty mid-tempo groove of 'Rose From a Stone' presents itself as an album highlight, complete with a personalised lyric about the challenges faced by Peter Gamble and his wife to be together (some nice, edgy guitar work here from Tony Scott).
The intensity then drops again for 'Faith Healer.' A downtempo number featuring contribution from previous keys man Paul Rocks, 'Faith Healer' doesn’t really shift out of first gear, although it can be argued that’s the pulsating, rhythmic point.
A rhythmic, mid-tempo groove also drives 'Don’t Look Down,' but the six-string shimmers, textures and upbeat middle 8 make for a much more impacting number.
The album ends much as it opened with a big-beat rocker, 'Walking Wounded.' Carrying both vibrancy and impact, it makes for the perfect closing statement.
With inspiration taken from the highs, lows, love, life and challenges of the world we live in, NorthStar, title fittingly, shines as a marker to Silent Running’s most all-encompassing album.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Purchase Northstar on CD or Digital at: https://silent-running.bandcamp.com/album/northstar
However, following a reunion in 2019 that was supposed to a fun get-together for a couple of live dates, the band found they still had more to offer.
A live album was followed in 2022 by their first studio album in thirty-three years, Follow The Light.
Three years on from Follow The Light comes the Arts Council of Northern Ireland supported NorthStar, featuring the Silent Running core of Peter Gamble (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Tony Scott (lead guitars, backing vocals), Richard Collett (bass, backing vocals) and Gary Kirby (drums, backing vocals, programming), who first played with the band on Deep. Keys are provided by David Williams.
While Follow The Light can be seen, or rather heard, as the three decades later sequel to the big rock sound of Deep, NorthStar (which, like its predecessor, was solely written by Peter Gamble), is slightly more guitar orientated, where keyboards are utilised more as textures. That Silent Running sound is still very much present and correct however.
The album opens with 'This Is My City Tonight,' is a big-beat, bass pumping melodically rocking nod to Belfast and the more positive, present day nature of the city, as opposed to the one Peter Gamble grew up in.
The mid-tempo groove and hook of 'Hit And Run' recalls similarly vibed 80s radio hits (think a brighter sounding version of Jon Waite’s 'Missing You'), but its true strength is the lyrical twist where Peter Gamble writes & sings from the female perspective of looking for real love but only finding those ‘hit’ and runs, "always crashing on the road to find the one."
The driving, Billy Idol-esque 'You And Me Against The World' would have sat comfortably on second album Walk On Fire; the downtempo brace of 'State Of Mind' (which sports a nice solo and harmony play from Tony Scott) and the more brooding 'Shooting Star' also nod to that Silent Running 80s sound, but here with a contemporary sheen.
Ballad 'Seventh Wave' adds nicely arranged love song contrast before the weighty mid-tempo groove of 'Rose From a Stone' presents itself as an album highlight, complete with a personalised lyric about the challenges faced by Peter Gamble and his wife to be together (some nice, edgy guitar work here from Tony Scott).
The intensity then drops again for 'Faith Healer.' A downtempo number featuring contribution from previous keys man Paul Rocks, 'Faith Healer' doesn’t really shift out of first gear, although it can be argued that’s the pulsating, rhythmic point.
A rhythmic, mid-tempo groove also drives 'Don’t Look Down,' but the six-string shimmers, textures and upbeat middle 8 make for a much more impacting number.
The album ends much as it opened with a big-beat rocker, 'Walking Wounded.' Carrying both vibrancy and impact, it makes for the perfect closing statement.
With inspiration taken from the highs, lows, love, life and challenges of the world we live in, NorthStar, title fittingly, shines as a marker to Silent Running’s most all-encompassing album.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Purchase Northstar on CD or Digital at: https://silent-running.bandcamp.com/album/northstar